“Princess, Garden Gnomes were a huge hit at the Chelsea Flower Show this year, but these garden gnomes sure are odd looking.” “They aren’t garden gnomes, Daddy-O, they’re reproductions in metal, of one of your not-so-distant cousins.”
May 212013
May 172013
It’s funny. I always thought you saw a lot more by bike than you could by car or by foot. But each has its own merits I see more by foot sometimes, meandering around a flowerbed while the dogs take their time taking in all the scents.
May 132013
“Lead us not into temptation. We’ll find the way ourselves.”
Apr 262013
“What was that package that came in the mail today,” asked Mr. Wild Dingo. “Oh that was Juno’s backpack. Her physical torturer therapist, Madam Jenny recommended she carry her own water for hikes.”
Apr 232013
I don’t say it often enough, but I love this dog more than words can say. Last month, I lost the cracker and criminal on a forest run. Before you panic, I’ll just skip to the end and tell you both were found and everything is OK. And before readers claim “Never let a Sibe [...]
Apr 222013
The number of days before she can huff her displeasure at Mr. Wild Dingo once again. But who’s counting?
Apr 052013
I have no idea why I keep getting poison oak outbreaks all over my arms and neck. Nope. No idea at all.
Feb 272013
“Princess, I don’t think we’re alone!” Operation Jodhpurs Bulk-Up is now underway. Getting ready for our second mountain bike ride was a real treat. Juno practically did cartwheels around the garden as I put the bike rack on the car and loaded up the mountain bike gear. She knew where were going and she was [...]
Feb 212013
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I could combine two of my favorite things: cycling and dogs. Sure, I’ve seen it done by others. But they didn’t have a cracker or a criminal for their dogs. And sure, we’ve ridden the safe and easy paved farm roads in Switzerland where we could [...]
Dec 292012
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present. Or in this case, that piece of chicken right in front of us.
Dec 132012
“I’m just some lunatic macaroni mushroom, is that it?”
Dec 112012
One of the things I miss most about living in Switzerland is the ability to walk anywhere legally. For the first year there, I constantly felt like I was trespassing as hiking trails led us through quiet vineyards, cow pastures, farms and sometimes even close enough to people’s homes you can see what they’re having [...]
Nov 202012
Often on our forest walks in Lully and Morges, we would meet this lone gentleman soaking his feet in the river or walking the trails. He was a kind man, who always complimented the dogs. Especially since whenever we saw him from a distance, I’d recall the dogs so they wouldn’t bother him. Only, he [...]
Nov 172012
I got lucky when we adopted Juno. And not because she’s a Siberian (although that could be considered luck in itself). But because she’s a little different from most Siberians. She comes when she’s called, she sits when asked and will perform a multitude of other tricks deemed humiliating by most, ok all, Siberians.
Oct 252012
“Sorry Big Boy. This is a black and white party. Go find your own gang.”
Oct 192012
“Hi ya Sweetstuff! You sure are cute!” While yesterday’s post pointed out how dogs recognize their own breed, today’s post recognizes that you just can’t help who you fall for. Gun, the Tervuren, had a special interest in Juno.
Oct 182012
Ever notice if your dog recognizes his kind? Juno always cries when she sees another Northern breed. But Loki surprises me because he’s a mixed breed: Formosan and German Shepherd. Since we don’t meet many Formosan’s in Switzerland (ok none) his tendency is naturally toward German Shepherds. But I’m 100% certain, his favorite breed to [...]
Oct 162012
“That’s right, Elmer! We’re on a big hunt for bad-ass twuffles! And I’m the one who’ll twack ‘em for you!”
Oct 152012
The past two years have been a huge exercise of balance between limits and liberties. The two of my dogs have different limits and knowing them is key to giving them the liberties that they’ve earned in a safe way.
Oct 122012
“Look at THAT!” Hm. On a walk through the deep forests in Friborg, my Siberian spots something. Whatever could it be?